Dec. 21, 2001
RENO, Calif. - Led by individual title winners David Douglas (133), Eric Larkin (141) and Kellan Fluckiger (HWT), and runner-up Erik Gladish (197), the eighth-ranked Arizona State wrestling squad finished third at the Reno Tournament of Champions in Reno, Nev., Thursday.
The all-day affair featured a surprise team victory by No. 17 Missouri, edging No. 2 Oklahoma State 172.5 to 171 points. Until tonight, OSU had won six straight Reno Tournament of Champions titles. No. 8 ASU finished third with 115 points, while No. 20 Penn State was fourth with 106.5 points.
Larkin turned in a commanding performance on the mat at 141 pounds, pinning his first four opponents including Oregon's Brian Watson in just one minute, 30 seconds, in the semifinal match. Larkin, the top-ranked wrestler in the nation at 141 pounds, then earned a 4-1 decision over Cal Poly's Cedric Haymon in the title bout. Larkin already has nine wins by fall this season.
Douglas, ranked third at 131 pounds, was just as impressive, winning his first three matches by fall, major decision and technical fall before upsetting No. 1 Johnny Thompson of Oklahoma State, 3-2, in the championship match. Douglas has yet to lose a match this season with a perfect 14-0 record.
Fluckiger came away with the heavyweight crown, winning four straight decisions, including a 2-1 win over Central Michigan's Jack Leffler in the finals. Gladish also advanced to the finals at 197 pounds with three wins, but fell victim to a pin by Missouri's Scott Barker just one minute into the championship match. Barker's win helped seal the upset team victory for Missouri and he was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Rocky Smart was ASU's other placewinner, finishing sixth at 157 pounds. Smart won his first two matches but pulled out of his last three.
ASU resumes action on the mat after the Christmas holiday at the Midlands Tournament, Saturday, Dec. 29, through Sunday, Dec. 30 in Evanston, Ill.
Reno Tournament of Champions
Arizona State Results
125 Pounds
none
133 Pounds
Final: David Douglas (ASU) dec. Johnny Thompson (Oklahoma State), 3-2
Semifinals: David Douglas (ASU) technical fall Josh Moore (Penn State), 18-3
Quarterfinals: David Douglas (ASU) major decision Nathaniel Ybarra (Cal Poly), 12-3
Second Round: David Douglas (ASU) fall Sean Markey (Citadel), 1:40
Second Round: Johnny Thompson (Oklahoma State) fall Evan Larkin (ASU), 2:27
Cons. 2: Evan Larkin (ASU) dec. Zach Enoch (Portland State), 9-2
Cons. 3: Urijah Faber (UC Davis) dec. Evan Larkin (ASU), 10-4
141 Pounds
Final: Eric Larkin (ASU) dec. Cedric Haymon (Cal Poly), 4-1
Semifinals: Eric Larkin (ASU) fall Brian Watson (Oregon), 1:30
Quarterfinals: Eric Larkin (ASU) fall Thomas Juarez (Cal State Bakersfield), 6:50
Second Round: Eric Larkin (ASU) fall Mike Martinez (Citadel), 4:17
First Round: Eric Larkin (ASU) fall Ronnie Delk (Oklahoma State), 2:40
149 Pounds
Quarterfinals: Collin Robertson (Boise State) dec. Quinn Foster (ASU), 7-3
Second Round: Nate Wachter (Penn State) dec. Danny Alcocer (ASU), 6-3
Second Round: Quinn Foster (ASU) dec. Jason Woodall (Penn State), 10-3
First Round: Danny Alcocer (ASU) dec. Wayne Watts (Citadel), 10-7
Cons. 1: Danny Alcocer (ASU) dec. Jeff Silva (Cal State Fullerton), 5-4
Cons. 2: Danny Alcocer (ASU) dec. Cooper Fouch (UC Davis), 10-5
Cons. 3: Elizar Ceballos (CS Bakersfield) dec. Quinn Foster (ASU), 9-6
157 Pounds
5th-6th Final: Jeremiah Jarvis (UC Davis) forfeit Rocky Smart (ASU)
Semifinals: Kenny Burleson (Missouri) injury def. Rocky Smart (ASU)
Quarterfinals: Rocky Smart (ASU) dec. Dustin Vance (Cal State Bakersfield), 8-1
First Round: Rocky Smart (ASU) dec. Joey Bracamante (Lassen CC), 3-2
Cons. 4: Joey Bracamante (Lassen CC) forfeit Rocky Smart (ASU)
165 Pounds
Quarterfinals: Kevin Carr (Central Michigan) dec. Nick Frost (ASU), 4-0
First Round: Nick Frost (ASU) major decision Matthew Ellis (Oklahoma State), 12-2
Cons. 2: Nick Frost (ASU) technical fall Bryan Busby (Cal State Bakersfield) 20-4
Cons. 3: Chris Vecchio (Penn State) dec. Nick Frost (ASU), 6-3
174 Pounds
First Round: Pat Owens (Boise State) dec. Jason Conine (ASU), 10-6
Cons. 1: Jason Conine (ASU) inj. def. Zachary Elliot (Cal State Fullerton)
Consl 2: Bryan Travers (Cal State Bakersfield) major decision Jason Conine (ASU), 11-3
184 Pounds
First Round: Pat Popolizio (Oklahoma State) fall Will Car (ASU), 1:48
Cons. 1: Will Carr (ASU) dec. Mark Detoro (Lassen CC), 7-3
Cons. 2: Will Carr (ASU) dec. Jon Terry (Boise State), 12-5
Cons. 3: Matt Turner (Missouri) dec. Will Carr (ASU), 4-3
197 Pounds
Final: Scott Barker (Missouri) fall Erik Gladish (ASU), 1:00
Semifinals: Erik Gladish (ASU) dec. Willie Gruenwald (Oklahoma State), 8-6
Quarterfinals: Erik Gladish (ASU) dec. Ryan Cummins (Penn State), 4-3
Second Round: Jordan Everett (Citadel) fall Andy Swanson (ASU), 3:56
Second Round: Erik Gladish (ASU) major decision Jake Leair (Oregon), 11-1
Cons. 2: Andy Swanson (ASU) fall Scott O'Rear (Cal State Bakersfield), 1:02
Cons. 3: Robbie Odell (Cal State Bakerfield) dec. Andy Swanson (ASU), 8-2
Heavyweight
Final: Kellan Fluckiger (ASU) dec. Jack Leffler (Central Michigan), 2-1
Semifinals: Kellan Fluckiger (ASU) dec. Kevin Herron (Missouri), 5-0
Quarterfinals: Kellan Fluckiger (ASU) dec. Bart Johnson (Boise State), 5-2
Second Round: Kellan Fluckiger (ASU) dec. Kevin Shippos (Penn State), 9-3